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Small Arms Exports
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on policy towards the controlled export of small arms. [94141]
Mr. Hain:
Pursuing a responsible and transparent policy on legal transfers of small arms from the UK, and encouraging other arms exporting countries to do likewise, is one of the main elements of our approach to combatting the problem of small arms proliferation.
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All licence applications to export goods and technology on the UK Military List, including small arms, are assessed on a case-by-case basis against our national export licensing criteria and those in the EU Code of Conduct on Arms Exports. If there is a clear risk that the proposed export might be used for internal repression or international aggression, or would provoke, prolong or aggravate existing tensions or conflicts in the destination country, the application is refused. We also carefully consider the risk of the goods being diverted to an undesirable end-user and the effect of the proposed export on regional stability.
We have encouraged non EU-member states to respect the principles of the EU Code of Conduct in their exports of military equipment, including small arms. We have also supported moves to address the issue of legal exports of small arms in the Wassenaar Arrangement for Export Controls on Conventional Arms and Dual-Use Goods.
The EU Joint Action on Small Arms of December 1998 commits the UK and other member states to work for international acceptance of the principle that small arms specially designed for military use should be exported only to governments.
Mr. Llwyd:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will meet with Ms Maneka Gandhi of the Ministry of Welfare in India, and Shri I. P. Gupta, Lieutenant Governor of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, to discuss the Jarawa people. [94391]
Mr. Hain:
FCO Ministers have no plans to meet Ms Maneka Gandhi or Shri I. P. Gupta.
Mr. Llwyd:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has held with the Indian Government regarding the reserve for Jarawa people on the Andaman Islands; and if he will make a statement. [94392]
Mr. Hain:
We are aware of reports regarding the Jarawa people of the Andaman Islands and plans for their resettlement. We understand that these are the subject of an individual's application to the High Court of Calcutta (on which judgment has yet to be delivered). We have not discussed these plans with the Indian Government.
Mr. Dismore:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has (a) made and (b) proposes to make on the forthcoming visit of the Iranian Foreign Minister to the UK and (c) on his forthcoming visit to Iran concerning the position of the 13 Iranian Jews detained in Iran on alleged spying charges; and if he will make a statement. [94411]
Mr. Hain:
We and our EU partners have pressed the Iranian authorities over this case and will continue to do so. As long ago as 20 May the German EU Presidency expressed concern at these detentions on behalf of EU member states, and a formal EU demarche to the Iranian government took place on 30 June.
We have also told the Iranians of our concern bilaterally, both in Tehran and in London. We have pressed for a fair and open trial, and access for visitors and legal representatives. We have also pressed for access
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for independent observers at any trial. Most recently the Foreign Secretary made these points to the Iranian Ambassador on 29 July. I reiterated them to him on 4 August. The Foreign Secretary also pressed Foreign Minister Kharrazi on this issue during their meeting at the United Nations General Assembly on 21 September. Our Ambassador in Tehran has spoken similarly to the Iranian authorities there.
Neither the agenda for the Secretary of State's visit to Iran, nor Foreign Minister Kharrazi's visit here, have yet been decided. Should this issue still not be resolved, we will raise it again.
Mr. Mackinlay:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he has taken following the imprisonment of James Mawdsley and Rachel Goldwyn in Burma; and if he will make a statement. [94606]
Mr. Hain:
We have expressed our concerns to the Burmese authorities about the handling of these cases. Consular staff have visited James and Rachel; both confirmed they were well and had not been ill-treated. We will continue to visit regularly and stay in close touch with families. We have done and will continue to do everything we properly can to help.
Joan Ruddock:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the next meeting on the Biosafety Protocol will take place; what preparations are being made by his Department for input into the EU position; and if he will make a statement. [94827]
Mr. Hain:
The resumed extra-ordinary conference of the Parties on Biosafety Protocol will take place in Montreal on 24-28 January 2000. My Department is working closely with the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions and other Government Departments in assessing the options put forward by other negotiating groups in the informal consultations in Vienna. Our posts are also active in feeding in information on developments in other countries for consideration in discussion with EU partners.
Joan Ruddock:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the prospects of the Extraordinary Conference of the parties meeting in Montreal under the auspices of the United Nations Convention on Biodiversity in January 2000 concluding the Biosafety Protocol. [94869]
Mr. Hain:
Early agreement of a workable and effective Biosafety Protocol is an important objective for this Government. We welcomed the decision made by Minister Mayr to resume the extra-ordinary Conference of the parties to agree the Protocol and particularly the strong political commitment to complete the Protocol expressed by all negotiating groups at the informal consultations in September. Hard work is still needed to come to final agreement on the outstanding issues to be covered under the Protocol. We will be making every effort to promote successful completion of the negotiations.
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Jane Griffiths:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list changes to sanctions regimes implemented by the UK since 26 July. [95494]
Mr. Hain:
New measures have been introduced against Indonesia; certain measures against Libya have been lifted; and amendments have been made to measures in place against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Details are as follows:
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Indonesia
On 16 September, the Council of the European Union adopted a Common Position (1999/624/CFSP) imposing restrictive measures against Indonesia. These measures are an embargo on the export of arms, munitions and military equipment; a ban on the supply of equipment which might be used for internal repression or terrorism; and the suspension of bilateral military cooperation.
The embargo on the export of arms, munitions and military equipment is being applied to all goods and technology on the Military List which forms Part III of the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1994, as amended.
The Common Position shall expire on 17 January 2000.
Following from this Common Position, the EC adopted Regulation 2158/1999 on 11 October which prohibits:
(a) the sale, supply, export or shipment, directly or indirectly, of equipment listed in an Annex to the Regulation, whether or not originating in the Community, to any person or body in the Republic of Indonesia or to any person or any body for the purpose of any business carried on in, or operated from, the territory of the Republic of Indonesia;
(b) the participation in related activities the object of which is, directly or indirectly, to promote the transactions or activities referred to in (a) above.
EU member states may authorise the transactions or activities referred to at (a) and (b) above in respect to certain items in the Annex when they have obtained conclusive evidence that the end use of these items is not for internal repression or terrorism.
The Regulation applies within the territory of the Community including its air space and on board any aircraft or any vessel under the jurisdiction of a member state and to any person elsewhere who is a national of a member state and any body which is incorporated or constituted under the law of a member state.
The Regulation entered into force on 13 October and is directly applicable in the UK. Legislation has been introduced to provide for licensing and enforcement, including penalties. The Indonesia (Supply, Sale, Export and Shipment of Equipment) (Penalties and Licences) Regulations 1999 (SI 1999/2822) came into force on 14 October.
The Regulation shall expire on 17 January 2000.
Libya
On 13 September, the Council of the European Union adopted a Common Position (1999/611/CFSP) lifting a number of EU sanctions against Libya which were imposed in 1986. These measures were restrictions on the freedom of movement of Libyan diplomats and consular personnel; the reduction of staff of diplomatic and consular missions; and stricter visa requirements and procedures. The EU arms embargo against Libya, also imposed in 1986, remains in force.
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY)
On 3 September, the Council of the European Union adopted a Common Position (1999/604/CFSP) allowing exceptions to the EU oil embargo and flight ban in relation to Kosovo and Montenegro.
Following from this Common Position, the EC adopted two Regulations.
Regulation 2111/1999, adopted on 4 October, repeals and replaces Regulation 900/1999 prohibiting the sale and supply of petroleum and petroleum products to the FRY and provides for member states to authorise the sale, supply, export or shipment of such goods provided that the goods are shipped from the Community to Montenegro or Kosovo without transiting through other parts of Serbia and that the goods shall not leave the territory of Montenegro or Kosovo for any destination elsewhere in Serbia.
The Regulation entered into force on 5 October and is directly applicable in the UK. Legislation has been introduced to provide for licensing and enforcement, including penalties. The Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Supply, Sale and Export of Petroleum and Petroleum Products) (Penalties and Licences) (No. 3) Regulations 1999 (SI 1999/2821) came into force on 14 October.
Regulation 2151/1999, adopted on 11 October, repeals and replaces Regulation 1064/1999 imposing a ban on flights between the European Community and the FRY and provides for member states to authorise specified flights between the territories of the Community and Montenegro or Kosovo provided that the points of departure, intermediate points and points of final destination in the FRY are located only in Montenegro or Kosovo.
The Regulation entered into force on 12 October and is directly applicable in the UK.
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